Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Gelechiidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Aristotelia | |
Aristotelia zetetica is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1934. It is found in southern India.
The wingspan is 6-7 mm. The forewings are reddish-ochreous, sometimes minutely speckled fuscous, with some small dark fuscous and blackish spots towards the base and an oblique reddish-fuscous fascia edged with fine indistinct whitish lines from the costa at one-fourth to the fold, its apex acutely projecting beneath the first discal stigma, which is black ringed white. The second discal is similar, lying between the tips of two fine oblique white lines from the costa, the costal area between these blackish-fuscous. Beyond the second discal stigma is a fine black dash and there is a slight oblique whitish mark beneath the first discal stigma, and short dorsal marks on each side of the second. The hindwings are bluish-grey.
The larvae feed on Bridelia retusa, living in a cell between two leaves which are spun together. Pupation takes place within the cell in a cocoon spun with silk and excrement.